GSW Seacoast Century ride returns after horrific crash

HAMPTON — A crash that claimed the lives of two bicyclists last fall won't prevent the annual event in which they were riding from again being held in Hampton.

KYLE STUCKER

HAMPTON — A crash that claimed the lives of two bicyclists last fall won't prevent the annual event in which they were riding from again being held in Hampton.

Selectmen unanimously authorized Monday the 41st annual Granite State Wheelmen Tri-State Seacoast Century ride to use Hampton Beach as its route headquarters in September. The vote came after the board heard emotional remarks from a representative of the noncompetitive cycling event.

“After the accident, many, many riders contacted us and said, 'Please continue your event,'” said Donna Hepp, referring to a Sept. 21, 2013, crash in which an allegedly impaired driver struck a group of bicyclists, killing two and injuring two others. “This hit us really hard, but we really feel it's important for cycling and important for New Hampshire to (have people) come to the state and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Seacoast and offer a safe ride, which we believe we did. This was just a really horrific accident that nobody could've predicted.”

Hampton has been guarded about approving racing and other events that impact road safety since a vehicle operated by Darriean Hess, an unlicensed Seabrook teen driver who was allegedly impaired on several drugs, crossed the center line on the Neil R. Underwood Memorial Bridge and struck a group of single-file bicyclists on the morning of Sept. 21.

Since the crash, selectmen have made a number of requests from other event applicants and have been critical of some of the plans they've reviewed. None of those concerns were cast against GSW's thorough plans Monday, though.

“It's been an excellent event for a number of years,” said Selectman Rusty Bridle, who was one of several selectmen who voiced strong support for the event Monday.

Hampton Deputy Police Chief Rich Sawyer said road and ride safety is “obviously a hot issue” since Sept. 21, although he said GSW's application was complete, comprehensive and “way ahead” of the events that generated safety concerns.

The department is “taking a step back to look at all of (Hampton's) events plans” to evaluate safety, according to Sawyer, although he said the Sept. 21 crash in no way was caused by any sort of oversight or negligence by its organizers.

“In the end it comes down to one thing: (The Sept. 21 crash) was caused by an impaired driver who now has a (criminal) matter pending in court,” said Sawyer. “That's it. Period. I don't see any reason why this shouldn't continue in light of this tragedy.”

Roughly 4,300 recreational cyclists are expected for this year's two-day Tri-State Seacoast Century, which will start at South Beach on Sept. 20, according to Hepp. No roads will be closed because single-file riders leave in various intervals due to the fact that there are 25-, 50-, 63- and 100-mile routes.

Electronic signs were placed around the area last year. Hepp said a number of safety measures and warnings will also be present for this year's event, for which registration is open until Aug. 31.

Hess, 19, is scheduled for a jury trial in Rockingham Superior Court at 9 a.m. on Nov. 17 on two counts of negligent homicide driving while intoxicated, two counts of negligent homicide, two counts of manslaughter and two counts of second-degree assault in connection to the Sept. 21 crash.

Pam Wells, 60, of South Hamilton, Mass., and Elise Bouchard, 52, of Danvers, Mass., were killed in the crash, while Uwe Uhmeyer, 60, of Essex, Mass., and Margo Heigh, 54, of Danvers, Mass., were injured.

Police allege Hess was under the influence of three narcotic drugs — fentanyl, Klonopin and Percocet — at the time of the crash, which occurred hours after Hess was stopped for speeding in the same area of Hampton.

Police found Hess didn't have a license and gave her a verbal order not to drive before releasing her into the custody of Cindy Sheppard, 48, of Hampton. Police have said Sheppard later gave Hess the vehicle's keys after allegedly supplying Hess with drugs.

Sheppard will go to trial later this year in connection to the crash. She faces dispensing a controlled drug and possession of fentanyl, cocaine and methadone while released on bail charges, as well as a violation-level charge of allowing an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

The crash inspired changes to state law this year after Hampton-area legislators sponsored a bill that makes driving without a license a Class B misdemeanor, which is an arrestable offense. Police have said the old state law didn't allow officers to take further action against Hess at the time of her traffic stop for speeding.

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